By Blake Jackson
Pennsylvania recorded 19 farm-related fatalities in 2025, matching the total reported the previous year, according to the latest Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary released by the Penn State Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
The annual report, developed by researchers and Penn State Extension educators, helps identify agricultural hazards and supports efforts to improve farm safety through education and outreach.
To strengthen prevention efforts, Penn State has introduced a new farm safety walkthrough program. The free initiative offers individualized farm visits to help producers identify potential hazards and develop practical safety strategies. The program is educational in nature and is not connected to regulatory enforcement.
Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor and leader of Penn State’s agricultural safety and health programs, noted that fatality numbers can fluctuate significantly each year and may not capture every incident.
Becot also pointed out that nonfatal injuries are even harder to document despite their lasting impact on farm families.
The 2025 fatalities occurred across 14 Pennsylvania counties, with Lancaster, Butler, and Franklin counties each reporting more than one death.
More than 80% of the victims were male, while approximately 31% were members of the Anabaptist community. Over one-third of those killed were between 45 and 64 years old, and more than one-quarter were at least 65 years old.
“Notably, the distribution differed from prior years, with a higher proportion of fatalities among middle-aged individuals and lower rates among the youngest children,” Becot said.
Nearly four out of five victims were actively working when the incidents occurred, while young children accounted for all nonworker fatalities.
Tractor rollovers and other off-road vehicle accidents remained the leading causes of death, followed by machinery-related incidents and structural collapses.
“While we do our best to identify all fatalities, we recognize that some fatalities may be missing,” Becot said. “This is particularly the case as newspapers, which have been a primary source of information, have decreased in number in rural areas.”
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Equipment & Machinery, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety